Method and apparatus for drawing off thread end portions from bobbins



g- 1.954 w. REINERS 2,685,413

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF THREAD END PORTIONS FROM BOBBINS Filed April 22, 1952 7) 7 I u or I" if u .3 k 26 /6 /8 6 ma l.\ H "mmm:

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INVENTOR.

WALTER REIHERS Patented Aug. 3, 1954 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF THREAD END PORTIONS FROM BOB- BINS Walter Reiners, Waldniel, Niederrhein, Germany Application April 22, 1952, Serial No. 283,656

Claims priority, application Germany April 24, 1951 23 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mechanically drawing on the end portion of a thread wound on a bobbin.

In spinning operations it is necessary to locate and unwind the beginning of the thread wound on bobbins. This operation has been, so far, carried out manually since it has been 'considered impossible to use mechanical means to locate, unwind and hold a thread end portion of a thread wound on a bobbin.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a method for mechanically unwinding from a bobbin the end portion of a thread.

It is another object of the present invention to wind a thread end portion located on one end of a bobbin in a few loops toward the other end of the bobbin, and to tightly coilsuch thread end portion on the other end of .a bobbin so that it may be easily engaged and pulled on by mechanical means.

It is a further object of the present invention to engage such coiled thread end portion by suitable holding means and to permit dropping of the bobbin to a position in which the end portion carrying the coiled thread end portion is farther spaced from the holding means whereby a portion of the thread is unwound.

It is a still further object of the present inven tion to release the coiled threaded end portion from the holding means and to hold such end portion by suction so as to slightly tension the unwound thread portion.

With these objects in view the present inventionmainly consists in a method for drawing off from a bobbin a thread end portion, such method comprising the steps of tightly windingaround one end portion of the bobbin the thread end portion located on the outside of the bobbin so as to form a coiled thread end portion, and moving the coiled thread end portion and the bobbin away from each other so as to draw the coiled thread end portion off the bobbin.

Preferably an apparatus is used for-carrying .out this method which comprises a movable supporting member supporting an end portion of a bobbin carrying a tightly coiled thread end-portion. Clamping means are provided which are .reciprocated between two positions by a driven cam member while actuating means open and close the clamping means during the reciprocating movement of the same. The arrangement is such that the cam means move the clamping means toward the coiled thread end portion on the bobbin whereupon the actuating means close the clamping means which clamp the coiledthread end portion and draw it off the bobbin during movement away from the bobbin. Now the supporting member is moved by the cam means through a lever to release the bobbin which drops, and thereby unwinds a portion of the-thread. In this position the actuating means open the clamping means so that the coiled thread end portion drops. A suction means is provided underneath the clamping means so that the dropping coiledthread end portion is sucked into a suction opening whereby the unwound thread is slightly tensioned and ready for .any desired operation, such as .knotting to another thread.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended'cla-ims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side View of an apparatus according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view similar'to Fig. 1, showing the apparatus in another position;

Fig. .3 is a plan view of a detail oi'the apparaus; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the end portion of a bobbin.

Referring now to the drawings, a bobbin 2 is supported on a stationary supporting means I andon a movable supporting member '5. Ordinarily the end of the inner layer oi the thread is located on the rear end portion of the bobb n while the end of the outer layers of the thread is located on thefront end portion of the bobbin. However bobbins used for the apparatus of the present invention have the end portion of the outer layer of thread wound ina few loose loops 3 which extend from the bobbin front :end portion, which is supported by the stationary :supporting means I, toward the rear end portion of the bobbin which is supported by the movable arcuate trough .5, and are wound on this rear end portion in a tightly wound coiled thread end portion 4.

The supporting member 5 is slidably mounted. in the portion ii of thesupportingmeans .23,.and .it is ipivotally engaged ,at-S by the arm "9 'of 'a lever '9, .Hl'which is;pivoted;at l2 on thezsupporting means 23, the other arm'lfl of the lever B, Ill engaging lat -the end thereof the driven cam means Isl which are rotatablymounted on athe 3 supporting means 23 on a shaft I3. During rotation of the cam means II, the supporting member is moved to the left against the action of the spring means 1 and releases the end portion of the bobbin 2 so that the bobbin may drop along the curve 32 onto a support I5, turning during dropping about a transverse axis to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing and unwinding at least part of the loops 3.

Before the bobbin is permitted to drop, the coiled thread end portion 4 is pulled on the end portion of the bobbin by hook. or clamping means which include a first clamping member I6 having on one end a hooked end portion it, a slide member I8 slidable on the first clamping member i5, and two second clamping members ll which are secured to the slide member I3 and engage with their free end portion the sides of the first clamping members IS. The other end 25 of the first clamping member slides along a guiding surface 24 of the supporting means 23 The drive means include besides the cam Ila. a two-armed lever means 21, 29 pivotally mounted on the pin 28 on the supporting means 23 and pivoted at 26 to the hook means I5, 16', and Il, supporting the same. The lower end portion 29 of the lever means 27, 29 engages the cam means I i, which during rotation rock lever means 2?, 29 against the action of the resilient means 38 which is secured at 3! to the supporting means 23.

Actuating means for actuating the clamping means I6, I 7 are secured to the supporting means 23 and include an abutting portion 23, and stop means 2I slidably mounted in a recess of the supporting means 23. A spring 32 urges the stop means 2! toward the abutment portion 2a.

A projecting portion I9 is provided on the slide member I8, and projects into the space between the stop means 2: and the abutment portion 28.

The apparatus operates as follows:

A bobbin 2 is placed with one end portion thereof on the supporting member 5, such end portion carrying the tightly wound coiled thread end portion 4. The hooked end portion l6 and the clamping members I? engage the coiled end portion 4 of the bobbin thread. In the position shown in Fig. l, the cam means I I have just moved the first clamping member 25 and the hooked end portion IE to the right so that the abutment member engages the projection is, sliding the slide member I8, and thereby the second clamping members II away from the hooked end portion i=6, so that the clamping means are opened. The end portion of the first clamping member It, sliding on the guiding surface 24, constitutes a pivoting point during the reciprocating movement of the clamping member IE, which is slightly lifted by the lever arm 21' during the pivoting movement of the same about point 28. Consequently, the hooked end portion I6 and the clamping member I! are moving downwardly during the last part of their reciprocating movement to the right and engage the coiled thread end portion 4 from above.

If the cam means II are counterclockwise rotated, the spring will pivot the lever means 21 and 28, so that the first clamping member I6 is moved to the left. During such movement the projection I9 engages the stop mean 2| which urge the clamping members i! toward the hooked portion I6. Since the coiled thread end portion 4 is located between members it and I1, the clamping means cannot close completely but tightly hold the coiled thread end portion 4 under the action of spring 22, which is compressed while the clamping means 25, I6, 18, IS and I! move toward the left to the position shown in Fig.

During the latter part of this movement, after the coiled thread end portion 4 is already clamped between members I6, Il, the cam mean Il pivot the lever 9, H] and move the supporting member 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the bobbin drops onto a support I5, turning through an angle of to the position shown in Fig. 2. During the movement of the clamping means, and the pulling off of the coiled thread end portion, part of the loosely wound thread portion 3 adjacent to the coil A has been unwound, while the remaining loops 3 are unwound from the bobbin during the dropping of the bobbin.

During further counterclockwise rotation of the cam means II the lever means 21, 29 are pivoted against the action of the spring as in clockwise direction so that the clamping means l6, ll, I8, I 9 move to the right until the projection I 9 engages the abutment portion 28. Further movement to the right opens the clamping means so that the coiled thread end portion is released, and drops into the suction opening of the suction means I4. The portion 3 of the thread extends now from the bobbin 2 tothe opening of the suction means IQ, and is readily accessible for being engaged by suitable mechanical means, for instance by an automatic knotting device.

The method which is carried out by the abovedescribed apparatus mainly consists in engaging a tightly wound coiled thread end portion by hook means, and pulling it off the bobbin. In order to facilitate such operation, the end portion of the bobbin carrying the coiled thread end portion 4 may be formed with a slot 2' extending longitudinally therein so as to permit the hook portion IE to project into such slot and to engage the coiled thread end portion from below.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of a method for drawing off a thread end portion from a bobbin differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an apparatus for engaging by hook means a coiled thread end portion prepared on a bobbin, and for moving such hook means and the bobbin relatively to each other, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A method for drawing oif from a bobbin an end portion of a thread wound thereon, comprising, in combination the steps of tightly winding around one end portion of the bobbin the threat end portion located on the outside of the bobbin so as to form a coiled thread end portion; mechanically engaging said coiled thread end portion; and relatively moving said coiled thread end portion and the bobbin away from each-otherso as to draw said coiled thread-end portion off the bobbin.

2. A method for drawing off from -a bobbin an end portion of a thread wound thereon, comprising, in combination, the steps of tightly winding around one end portion of thebobbin the thread end portion located on the outside of the bobbin so as to form a coiled thread-end portion; mechanically engaging said coiled thread end portion; relatively moving said coiled thread end portion and the bobbin away from each other so as to draw said coiled thread end portion off the bobbin; releasing said coiled thread end portion from engagement; and holding said coiled thread end portion by suction at a point spaced from the bobbin.

3. A method for drawing off from a bobbin an end portion of a thread wound thereon, comprising, in combination, the steps of winding in a fewloops extending over the entire length of the bobbin the thread end portion located on the outside of the bobbin toward one end portion of the bobbin; tightly winding around said one end portion of the bobbin said thread end portion so as to form a coiled thread end portion thereon; clamping said coiled thread end portion; relatively moving said coiled thread end portion and the bobbin away from each other so as to draw said coiled thread end portion ofi the bobbin and to unwind at least part of said few loops; releasing said coiled thread end portion; and holding said coiled thread end portion by suction at a point spaced from the bobbin.

4. A method of drawing off from a bobbin an end portion of a thread wound thereon, comprising, in combination, the steps of winding in a few loops extending over the entire length of the bobbin the thread end portion located on the outside of the bobbin toward one end portion of the bobbin; tightly winding around said one end portion of the bobbin said thread end portion so as to form a coiled thread end portion thereon; mechanically engaging said coiled thread end portion; relatively moving said coiled thread end portion and the bobbin away from each other so as to draw said coiled thread end portion oh the bobbin and to unwind part of said few loops; permitting the bobbin to drop for a predetermined distance so as to unwind at least a further part of said few loops; releasing said coiled thread end portion from engagement; and holding said coiled thread end portion by suction at a point spaced from the bobbin.

5. An apparatus for drawing oil from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion wound on one end portion of the same, comprising, in combination, supporting means; drive means movably mounted on said supporting means; and hook means engaged by said drive means and being reciprocated by the same, said hook means being adapted to engage the coiled thread end portion of the bobbin and to move said coiled thread end portion away from the bobbin so as to unwind from the same the thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion.

6. .An appartus for drawing ofi from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion woundon one end portion of the same, comprising, in combination, supporting means adapted to support the bobbin; lever means mounted on said supporting means pivotable between two positions; driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging said lever means and rocking the same between said two positions; hook means supported by said lever means and being recipro'cate'd by the same between two positions, said hook means being adapted to engage the-coiled thread end portion on the bobbin in said one of said two positions thereof and to move the same toward the other of said two positions thereof so as to unwind from the bobbin the thread portion adjacent to the coiled thread end portion.

7. An apparatus for drawing off from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion wound on one end portion of the same, comprising, in combination, supporting means adapted to support the bobbin; lever means mounted on saidsupportingmeans pivotable between two positions; driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging saidlever means and rocking the same between said two positions; clamping means supported by said lever means and being reciprocated by the same between twopositions; and actuating means secured tosaid supporting means and engaging and closing said clamping means during reciprocating movement of the same 110-1 wards one of said two positions, and opening the same during reciprocating movement of the same towards the other of said two positions, said clamping means being adapted to engage the coiled thread end portion on the bobbin in said other of said two positions thereof and to clamp the same when moving toward said one of said two positions thereof so as to unwind from the bobbin the thread portion adjacent to the coiled thread end portion.

8. An apparatus for engaging and moving a thread end portion, comprising, in combination, supporting means; a bobbin having one cylindrical end portion formed with a slot extending in longitudinal direction of said bobbin, said bobbin being adapted to support a thread wound thereon, and said cylindrical end portion being adapted to support a coiled thread end portion; lever means mounted on said supporting means pivotable between two positions; driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging said lever means .and rocking the same between said two positions; and hook means supported by said lever means and being reciprocated by the same between two positions, said hook means projecting into said slot and engaging said coiled thread end portion on the bobbin in one of said two positions thereof and moving the same toward the other of said two positions thereof so as to unwind from the bobbin the thread portion adjacent to the coiled thread end portion.

9. An apparatus for drawing 01f from a bobbin a-coiled thread end portion wound on one end portion of the same, comprising, in combination, supporting means .adapted to support the bobbin; lever means mounted on said supporting means pivotable between two positions; driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging said lever means and rocking the same between said two positions; clamping means supported by said lever means and being reciprocated by the same between two positions; actuating means secured to said supporting means and, engaging and closing said clamping means during reciprocating movement of the same towards one of said two positions, and opening'the same during reciprocating movement of the same towards the other of said two positions, said clamping means being adapted to engage the coiled thread endportion on the bobbin in said other of said two positions thereo'fand to clamp thesame when moving towardsaid one of .said

two positions thereof so as to unwind from the bobbon the thread portion adjacent to the coiled thread end portion; and suction means mounted on said supporting means and having a suction opening located underneath said clamping means, said suction means adapted to suck in and to hold the coiled thread end portion when the same is released from said clamping means during movement of the same towards said other of said two positions thereof.

10. An apparatus for drawing off from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion Wound on one end portion of the same, comprising, in combination, supporting means; drive means movably mounted on said supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in one supporting position thereof said end portion of the bobbin, said supporting member being engaged by said drive means and moved by the same; and hook means engaged by said drive means and being reciprocated by the same, said hook means being adapted to engage the coiled thread end portion on the bobbin and to move said coiled thread end portion away from the bobbin so as to unwind from the same the thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion, and said supporting member being adapted to permit dropping of the bobbin when said supporting member is moved away from said supporting position thereof, such dropping causing a further portion of the thread to be unwound.

11. An apparatus for drawing off from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion wound on one end portion of the same, comprising, in combination, supporting means; drive means movably mounted on said supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in one supporting position thereof said end portion of the bobbin, said supporting member being engaged by said drive means and moved by the same; hook means engaged by said drive means and being reciprocated by the same, said hook means being adapted to engage the coiled thread end portion on the bobbin and to move said coiled thread end portion away from the bobbin so as to unwind from the same the thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion, and said supporting member being adapted to permit dropping of the bobbin when said supporting member is moved away from said supporting position thereof, such dropping causing a further portion of the thread to be unwound; and suction means mounted on said supporting means and having a suction opening located underneath said hook means, said suction sucking into the interior thereof, and holding therein, said coiled thread end portion when the same is released by said hook means.

12. An apparatus for drawing oif from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion of a thread wound on one end portion thereof, comprising, in combination, supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in one supporting position thereof the end portion of the bobbin carrying the coiled thread end portion; a support underneath said supporting member; a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and engaging said supporting member for moving the same; spring means urging said supporting member toward said one supporting position thereof; hook means mounted on said supporting means movable between two positions; resilient means urging said hook means toward one of said two positions thereof; and driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging said hook means and moving the same toward the other of said two positions, said driven cam means also engaging said lever and rocking the same so that said supporting member is moved out of said one supporting position while said hook means move toward the other of said two positions thereof, the arrangement being such that said hook means are adapted to engage and hold the coiled thread end portion of the bobbin while moving toward said one position thereof, and to release the thread end portion while moving toward said other position thereof so that the bobbin, released by said supporting member drops into said support so as to unwind a thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion.

13. An apparatus for drawing off from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion of a thread wound on one end portion thereof, comprising, in combination, supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in one supporting position thereof the end portion of the bobbin carrying the coiled thread end portion; a support underneath said supporting member; a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and engaging said supporting member for moving the same; spring means urging said supporting member toward said one supporting position thereof; hook means mounted on said supporting means movable between two positions; resilient means urging said hook means toward one of said two positions thereof; driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging said hook means and moving the same toward the other of said two positions, said driven cam means also engaging said lever and rocking the same so that said supporting member is moved out of said one supporting position while said hook means move toward the other of said two positions thereof, the arrangement being such that said hook means are adapted to engage and hold the coiled thread end portion of the bobbin while moving toward said one position thereof, and to release the thread end portion while moving toward said other position thereof so that the bobbin, released by said supporting member drops into said support so as to unwind a thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion; and suction means mounted on said supporting means and having a suction opening located underneath said hook means, said suction means adapted to suck in and hold the coiled thread end portion when the same is released by said hook means so that said adjacent thread portion extends between said suction opening and the bobbin.

14. An apparatus for drawing oif from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion of a thread wound on one end portion thereof, comprising, in combination, supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in on supporting position thereof the end portion of the bobbin carrying the coiled thread end portion; a support underneath said supporting member; a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and engaging said supporting member for moving the same; spring means urging said supporting member toward said one supporting position thereof; clamping means mounted on said supporting means movable between two positions; actuating means secured to said supporting means and engaging and closing. said clamping means during movement ofthe same toward one of said two positions, and engaging and. opening the same during movement of the same toward the other of said two positions; resilient means urging said clamping means toward said one of said two positions thereof; and driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging said clamping means and moving the same toward the other of said two positions, said driven cam means also engaging said lever and rocking the same so that said supporting member is moved out of said supporting position while said clamping means move toward the other of said two positions thereof, the arrangement being such that said clamping means are adapted to engage and hold the coiled thread end portion of the bobbin while moving toward said one position thereof, and to release the thread end portion while moving toward said other position thereof so that the bobbin, released by said supporting member drops onto said support so as to unwind a thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion.

15. An apparatus for drawing off from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion of a thread wound on one end portion thereof, comprising, in combination, supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in one supporting position thereof the end portion of the bobbin carrying the coiled thread end portion; a support underneath said supporting member; a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and engaging said supporting member for moving the same; spring means urging said supporting mem ber toward said one supporting position thereof; clamping means mounted on said supporting means movable between two positions; actuating means secured to said supporting means and engaging and closing said clamping means during movement of the same toward one of said two positions, and engaging and opening the same during movement of the same toward the other of said two positions; resilient means urging said clamping means toward said one of said two positions thereof; driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging said clamping means and moving the same toward the other of said two positions, said driven cam means also engaging said lever and rocking the same so that said supporting member is moved out of said supporting position while said clamping means move toward the other of said two positions thereof, the arrangement being such that said clamping means are adapted to engage and hold the coiled thread end portion of the bobbin while moving toward said one position thereof, and to release the thread end portion while moving toward said other position thereof so that the bobbin, released by said supporting member drops onto said support so as to unwind a thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread. end portion; and suction means mounted on said'supporting means and having a suction opening located underneath said clamping means, said suction means adapted to suck in and hold the coiled thread end portion when the same is released by said clamping means so that said adjacent thread portion extends between said suction opening and the bobbin.

16. An apparatus for drawing off from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion of a thread wound on one end portion thereof, comprising, in combination, supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in one supporting position thereof the end portion of the bobbin carrying the coiled thread end portion; a support underneath said supporting member; a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and engaging said supporting member for moving the same; spring means urging said supporting member toward said one supporting osition thereof; clamping means mounted on said supporting means movable between two positions, said clamping means including a first clamping member havinga hooked end portion and at least one second clamping member mounted on said first clamping member slidable toward and away from said hooked end portion, said second clamping member being formed with a projection; actuating means secured to said supporting means and having an abutment portion engaging said projection on said second. clamping member during movement of said clamping means in one direction so as to permit said hooked end portion to slide away from said second clamping member for opening said clamping means; resilient stop means engaging said projection during movement of said clamping means in the opposite direction so as to resiliently close said clamping means; resilient means urging said clamping means to move in said opposite direction toward one of said two positions thereof; and driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging said clamping means and moving the same in said one direction toward the other of said two positions, said drivencarn means also engaging said lever and rocking the same so that said supporting member is moved out of said one supporting position while said clamping means move toward the other of said two positions thereof, the arrangement being such that said clamping means are adapted to engage and hold the coiled thread end portion of the bobbin while moving toward said one position thereof, and to release the thread end portion while moving toward said other position thereofso that the bobbin, released by said supporting member drops onto said support so as to unwind a thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion.

1'7. An apparatus for drawing off from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion of a thread wound on one end portion thereof, comprising, in combination, supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in one supporting position thereof the end potrion of the bobbin carrying the coiled thread end portion; a support underneath said supporting member; a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and engaging said supporting member for moving the same; spring means urging said supporting member toward said one supporting position thereof; clamping means mounted on said supporting means movable between two positions, said clamp-ing means including a first clamping member having a hooked end portion and at least one second clamping member mounted on said first clamping member slidable toward and away from said hooked end portion, said second clamping member being formed with a projection; actuating means secured to said supporting means and having an abutment portion engaging said projection on said second clamping member during movement of said clamping means inone direction so as to permit said hooked end portion to slide away from saidsecond clamping member for opening said clamping means; resilient stop means engaging said projection during movement of said clamping means in the opposite direction so as to resiliently close said clamping means; resilient means urging said clamping means to move in said opposite direction toward one of said two positions thereof; driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging said clamping means and moving the same in said one direction toward the other of said two positions, said driven cam means also engaging said lever and rocking the same so that said supporting member is moved out of said one supporting position while said clamping means move toward the other of said two positions thereof, the arrangement being such that said clamping means are adapted to engage and hold the coiled thread end portion of the bobbin while moving toward said one position thereof, and to release the thread end portion while moving toward said other position thereof so that the bobbin, released by said supporting member drops onto said support so as to unwind a thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion; and suction means mounted on said supporting means and having a suction opening located underneath said hooked end portion, said suction means adapted to suck in and hold the coiled thread end portion when the same is released by said clamping means so that said adjacent thread portion extends between said suction opening and the bobbin.

18. An apparatus for drawing oif from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion of a thread wound on one end portion thereof, comprising, in combination, supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in one supporting position thereof the end portion of the bobbin carrying the coiled thread end portion; a support underneath said supporting member; a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and engaging said supporting member for moving the same; spring means urging said supporting member toward said one supporting position thereof; clamping means mounted on said supporting means movable between two positions, said clamping means including a first clamping member having a hooked end portion and at least one second clamping member mounted on said first clamping member slidable toward and away from said hooked end portion, said second clamping member being formed with a projection; actuating means secured to said supporting means and having an abutment portion engaging said projection on said second clamping member during movement of said clamping means in one direction so as to permit said hooked end portion to slide away from said second clamping member for opening said clamping means; resilient stop means engaging said projection during movement of said clamping means in the opposite direction so as to resi1 iently close said clamping means; resilient means urging said clamping means to move in said opposite direction toward one of said two positions thereof; two-armed lever means pivotally mounted on said supporting means, and engaging at one end thereof said first clamping member; and driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging the other end of said lever means rocking the same and moving said clamping means in said one direction toward the other of said two positions, said driven cam means also engaging said lever and rocking the same so that said supporting member is moved out of said one supporting position while said clamping means move toward the other of said two positions thereof, the arrangement being such that said clamping means are adapted to engage and hold the coiled thread end portion of the bobbin while moving toward said one position thereof, and to release the thread end portion while moving toward said other position thereof so that the bobbin, released by said supporting member drops onto said support so as to unwind a thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion.

19. An apparatus for drawing off from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion of a thread wound on one end portion thereof, comprising, in combination, supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in one supporting position thereof the end portion of the bobbin carrying the coiled thread end portion; a support underneath said supporting member; a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and engaging said supporting member for moving the same; spring means urging said supporting member toward said one supporting position thereof; clamping means mounted on said supporting means movable between two positions, said clamping means including a first clamping member having a hooked end portion, a slide member having a projection and being slidably mounted on said first clamping member toward and away from said hooked end portion, and two second clamping members, each second clamping member mounted on one side of said first clamping member; actuating means secured to said supporting means and having an abutment portion engaging said projection on said slide member during movement of said clamping means in one direction so as to permit said hooked end portion to slide away from said second clamping members for opening said clamping means; resilient stop means engaging said projection during movement of said clamping means in the opposite direction so as to resiliently close said clamping means; resilient means urging said clamping means to move in said opposite direction toward one of said two positions thereof; two-armed lever means pivotally mounted on said supporting means, and engaging at one end thereof said first clamping member; driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging the other end of said lever means rocking the same and moving said clamping means in said one direction toward the other of said two positions, said driven cam means also engaging said lever and rocking the same so that said supporting member is moved out of said one supporting position while said clamping means move toward the other of said two positions thereof, the arrangement being such that said clamping means are adapted to engage and hold the coiled thread end portion of the bobbin while moving toward said one position thereof, and to release the thread end portion while moving toward said other position thereof so that the bobbin, released by said supporting member drops onto said support so as to unwind a thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion; and suction means mounted on said supporting means and having a suction opening located underneath said hooked end portion, said suction means adapted to suck in and hold the coiled thread end portion when the same is released by said clamping means so that said adjacent thread 13 portion extends between said suction opening and the bobbin.

20. An apparatus for drawing off from a bobbin a coiled thread end portion of a thread wound on one end portion thereof, comprising, in combination, supporting means; a supporting member movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted to support in one supporting position thereof the end portion of the bobbin carrying the coiled thread end portion; a support underneath said supporting member; a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting means and engaging said supporting member for moving the same; spring means urging said supporting member toward said one supporting position thereof; clamping means mounted on said supporting means movable between two positions, said clamping means including a first clamping member having a hooked end portion, a slide member having a projection and being slidably mounted on said first clamping member toward and away from said hooked end portion, and two second clamping members, each second clamping member mounted on one side of said first clamping member; actuating means secured to said supporting means and having an abutment portion engaging said projection on said slide member during movement of said clamping means in one direction so as to permit said hooked end portion to slide away from said second clamping members for opening said clamping means; resilient stop means engaging said projection during movement of said clamping means in the opposite direction so as to resiliently close said clamping means; resilient means urging said clamping means to move in said opposite direction toward one of said two positions thereof; two-armed lever means pivotally mounted on said supporting means, and engaging at one end thereof said first clamping member; driven cam means mounted on said supporting means engaging the other end of said lever means rocking the same and moving said clamping means in said one direction toward the other of said two positions, said driven cam means also engaging said lever and rocking the same so that said supporting member is moved out of said one supporting position while said clamping means move toward the other of said two positions thereof, the arrangement being such that said clamping means are adapted to engage and hold the coiled thread end portion on the bobbin while moving toward said one position thereof, and to release the thread end portion while moving toward said other position thereof so that the bobbin, released by said supporting member drops onto said support turning during dropping through an angle of 180 about a transverse axis whereby the end portion thereof released by said supporting member is moved to a position farther spaced from said clamping means than the other end portion thereof so as to unwind a thread portion adjacent to said coiled thread end portion; and suction means mounted on said supporting means and having a suction opening located underneath said hooked end portion, said suction means adapted to suck in and hold the coiled thread end portion when the same is released by said clamping means so that said adjacent thread portion extends between said suction opening and the bobbin.

21. A method for drawing off from a bobbin an end portion of a thread wound thereon, comprising, in combination, the steps of tightly winding around one end portion of the bobbin the thread end portion located on the outside of the bobbin so as to form a coiled thread end portion; mechanically engaging said coiled thread end portion; relatively moving said coiled thread end portion and the bobbin away from each other so as to draw said coiled thread end portion off the bobbin; releasing said coiled thread end portion; and supporting said coiled thread end portion at a point spaced from said bobbin.

22. A method for drawing off from a bobbin an end portion of a thread wound thereon, comprising, in combination, the steps of tightly winding around one end portion of the bobbin the thread end portion located on the outside of the bobbin so as to form a coiled thread end portion; supporting said bobbin; mechanically engaging said coiled thread end portion; relatively moving said coiled thread end portion and the bobbin away from each other so as to draw said coiled thread end portion off the bobbin; permitting said bobbin to drop for a predetermined distance so as to unwind a portion of the thread wound thereon; releasing said coiled thread end portion; and supporting said coiled thread end portion at a point spaced from said bobbin.

23. A method for drawing off from a bobbin an end portion of a thread wound thereon, comprising, in combination, the steps of tightly winding around one end portion of the bobbin the thread end portion located on the outside of the bobbin so as to form a coiled thread end portion; supporting said bobbin; mechanically engaging said coiled thread end portion; relatively moving said coiled thread end portion and the bobbin away from each other so as to draw said coiled thread end portion off the bobbin; permitting said bobbin to drop for a predetermined distance so as to unwind a portion of the thread wound thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,227,754 Colman May 29, 1917 2,035,721 Reiners Mar. 31, 1936 

